Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Home Health Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of services does home care provide? Services include skilled nursing, Infusion nursing, ostomy and wound care,
physical therapy, occupational therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Workers,
Home Health Aides. All services provided by home care are ordered by your
physician.

What is home healthcare? Home healthcare allows patients to receive needed health care services,
while surrounded by family and friends at home reducing the time it takes
to recover from illnesses, injuries or surgery, and shorten hospital stays.
A nurse or a therapist will teach patients how to manage their illness
through education and training so they may achieve the highest level of
independence possible while remaining in their home.

How do I qualify for home care? To qualify for home care a physician’s order is required, the patient
is homebound and care provided must be skilled.

Can you come every day for a few hours? Skilled home care is to be intermittent care which means we will provide
the patient with skilled services such as nursing or therapy on a part-time
basis for a specific period of time.

Can you come give me my medications 3x/day? We are unable to provide this type of assistance under skilled home care.

What is the definition of homebound? In order to be considered homebound, the patient's medical condition
is such that their ability to leave home creates a considerable/taxing
effort, and when they leave home, it is for infrequent or short time periods,
e.g., to receive medical treatment.

Who pays for home care? Traditional Medicare covers home care at 100%. Medicare HMO’s cover
home healthcare in a variety of ways, depending on the plan you chose.
Commercial Insurance companies pay for homecare based on the kind of plan
you chose. There are often co-pays or deductibles to meet under the HMO
and Commercial insurance plans.

How long can I get home care? Medicare certifies each patient for an episode of care, which is 60 days.
You can be recertified for an unlimited amount of episodes if you meet
the criteria, however, your care only lasts as long as treatment is required.
Most commercial insurance plans have visit limits on how much care you
can be provided in a one year timeframe.

What areas do you serve? Services are provided in the greater Kansas City area including Jackson,
Western Lafayette and Northern Cass counties in Missouri and Johnson,
Leavenworth, Wyandotte and North Miami counties in Kansas.

Can I pick any provider I choose? The patient always has the right to choose which provider they would like
to handle their home care needs. However, be aware that under some commercial
insurance plans, there are in network providers, and your benefits are
better if you use a provider that is preferred (or in-network) by your
particular insurance company.

What insurance companies do you accept? See Insurance section. If you have questions regarding insurance, please
contact our office, we will be happy to assist you.